Improvement in machines for sowing fertilizers



E. D. MEAD. Machine for Sowing Fertilizers.

No. 218,759; Patented Aug. 19, 1879.

l/iifrmszms;

UNITED STATES A NT QEEEQ EDWIN D. MEAD, OF SHORTSVILLE, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR SOWING FERTILIZERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 218,759, dated August19, 1879; application filed September 23, 1878.

tains the superphosphate.

One of the commonest forms of fertilizing material which it is desiredto apply to land by means of mymachine or analogous machines is apowdery superphosphate of lime. This material is liable to become, bythe shaking of the machine, very closely compacted together. In dampweather it is liable to form a hard cake. It is important to providemeans for agitating it and for clearingor cleaning the surfaces of thedistributing machinery. The,

mainpart which is liable to become clogged is the wheel or correspondingdevice, which is provided with recesses and is partially immersed in thepasty mass.

I provide peculiar clearers, which revolve in the right position to freethe recesses in which the superphosphate is liable to clog. I provideone or more pins, projecting upward from the top surface of thedistributing wheel, which, as they travel around, stir up and loosen thesuperphosphate from the under side. They keep it clear close to thewheel. I provide a controlling-gage of a form adapted to crush thelumps.

The following is a description of what I consider the best means ofcarrying out the invention.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification. v I

Figure 1 is a plan view of a part of a machine sufficient to show two ofthe distributingwheels.

It will be understood that Iemploy a series of as many of thedistributing-wheels as may be desired, extending across the machine, and

all worked from a single driving-wheel. (Not represented.)

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the same parts on the line S S inFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view representing a modification.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures.

A is the hopper which contains the superphosphate to be distributed. BB.are castings formed with circular openings adapted to receive thefeed-wheels D. Around each of the circular openings is a hanging lip, B,with an internal flange, B adapted to support the wheel D by itsperiphery, as represented. The underface of each wheelD is formed with aseries of beveled-gear teeth, D, placed immediately within theperipheral bearing. These engage with corresponding driving-pinions E onthe driving-shaft E, which latter is supported in suitable bearings B onthe fixed frame-work of the machine, and receives motion through thepinion E from gearing on or connected with the driving-wheel. (Notrepresented.)

The upper face of the wheel D may be plane, or may have ribs extendingfrom its spaced projections 0 toward the center. The whole face of thefeed-wheel carries the phosphate. The cavities or recesses between theseprojections G serve as conveyors. They are filled by their rotationunder the mass of powdery fertilizer, and bring the material fromdistant points to the immediate vicinity of the discharge-orifice H. i

A spider-frame, B formed in one piece with or fixed on the casting B,extends across under each wheel D, and forms a firm support for acentral pivot, 01, which steadies the wheel D. It also forms a supportfor the bearing B A yoke-frame or arch, B is also cast on or firmlyfixed to each casting B. It serves as a support for a stout pivot oraxle, g, on which turns aclearing-wheel, G. This wheel performs animportant function in clearing the upper surface of thedistributing-wheel D and forc-- ing off the proper quantity ofsurperphosphate to be delivered down the spout or distributingpassage H.The form and functions of this clearing-wheel G and its mode of mountingare peculiar. Its lower face runs close to the upper face of the wheelD. Its axis 9 is slightly inclined, so that it bears only at theperiphery of the wheel D. It is formed with wings analogous to cogs,whichengage with the projections 0 on the upper face of thedistributingwheel D. These compel the clearing-wheelG to revolve and thewings of the wheel G to act as clearers to force out the superphosphatefrom the face of the feed-wheel.

The wings are beveled, as shown. The projections (J are correspondinglybeveled. In damp weather the superphosphate is liable to become pastyunder a kneading action. When thus conditioned it will pack, it the formof construction is not carefully attended to. The beveled edge of myscraper-wheel scrapes the surface of the feed-wheel and lifts thephosphate as it is forced to the orifice for discharge sufficiently tokeep it from packing.

As the machine is drawn over the ground, the shaft E is rotated by thepower received from the driving-wheel, and, being provided with pinionsE, corresponding to each distributingwheel D, gives a continuousrotatory motion to the entire set. Each wheel I) being geared andpivoted, as shown, receives a strong uniform motion; its pin 0 keepingthe superphosphate above stirred up in the immediate vicinity of thewheel. The upper part of the mass is saved from any agitation andkneading. No particle becomes stirred until the material below it hasbeen so far consumed as to let it down into the vicinity of thefeedwheel. Then it is certain to be agitated by the revolution of thewheel D under it and by the action of the pin or pins 0 projecting fromits upper face.

The projections U stand favorably situated to receive the phosphate,and, by the rotation of the wheel, to convey into the vicinity of thedischarge-orifice II a liberal supply of the superphosphate.

The clearing-wheel G stands favorably situated to scrape the whole uppersurface of the feed-wheel, and also by its beveled wings to act betweeneach of the beveled projections C, and to force out all thesuperphosphate which may be contained between the said projections.

J is a gate turning on a center, j, fixed in the casting B, and adapted,when properly placed, to cover the whole of the dischargeorifice H, andby adjusting will feed out any desired quantity, as thedistributing-wheel D brings around into the neighborhood of the orificeH a supply of the phosphate.

It will be seen that if the gate J is so nearly closed as to allow butlittle of the phosphate to pass through the orifice, the wings of theclearing-wheel G, being beveled, lift the balance, and it remainsundischarged. The front face of the gate J adjacent to thedistributing-wheel D has a high lip. This serves to crush any lumps ofphosphate which may have been formed and brought around into the properposition. The revolution of the wheel G in acting on such lumps, insteadof pushing them off radially over the upper surface of the gate,

mashes them against the front lip, J and the whole or a portion of eachlump is dropped down the discharge-orifice. Each gate J J has a longlever, J which is connected by a pimk, to a rod, K. This rod K extendsacross the machine, and is controlled by the attendant. It may be held,by a pinching-screw or otherwise, in any desired position in which it isadjusted. This single rod K therefore adjusts all the discharge-gates ofthe entire series. So, also, the ratio of the size of the clearingwheelG to the distributing-wheel D may be varied.

It will be understood that there may be some approved form of mechanismworked in the adjacent hopper M for distributing seeds, and that theseeds may be sown broadcast or conveyed down tubes, either with thefertilizing material, or independently, as may be preferred.

I have not deemed it necessary to represent any seeding device. Anydesired form and arrangement of guide-tubes, plows, and the like may beemployed with my invention in the same manner as with ordinaryfertilizerdistributers.

Fig. 3 represents a modification in which the central pivot of thedistributing-wheel is dispensed with. The discharge-orifice is in thecenter of the distributing-wheel. The great mass of the fertilizingmaterial is prevented from falling through this by any convenient means,as a cylindrical casing, or a circular plate covering the main part ofthe whole, and leaving a sufficient orifice at the side adjacent to theclearing-wheel.

The motion may be imparted to the annular feed-wheel in the same manneras above, and the action of the wings and the clearing-wheel G will actby the beveled edges and wings to clear the spaces between theprojections O in same manner as already described; but in this case theywill work from the exterior in ward. The pivot or axis on which thewheel Gr turns is in this case outside of the distributingwheel insteadof within its area. The bevel of the projections 0 must in this be onthe outer instead of the inner edges of the projections C.

The parts may be made with sufiicient accuracy, with little or nofinishing by tools. With an ordinary good fit between the periphery ofthe feed-wheel D and the hanging lip B' which surrounds it, and theflange B which underlies it, a little lubricating material applied atintervals serves not only to relieve the friction, but also to make andmaintain a tight joint, and prevent any escape of the fertilizer aroundthe feed-Wheel.

It will be observed that my construction allows the pin or arm 0 to movefreely around in combination with the clearer G, and without interferingwith it. In passing the clearer the pin applies in oneof the notchestherein.

The notched form of my clearer is important in providing for the passageof the pin 0; and it also serves a usefulfunction in communicatingtheproper rotatory motion from the wheel D by means of the projections Gen gaging therewith. The projections O in this case perform the doublefunctions of conveyers to insure that 'the wheel shall -by its rotationtransport the loose material lying thereon to a the delivery-hole H, andalso of teeth to rotate the wheel G; but some of the benefits of myinvention might be obtained by rotating the clearer G by other means.

Machines for sowing or distributing have been heretofore made with ahorizontally-revolving feed-wheel. In these, however, the feed-wheel islocated within the bottom of the hopper, or, when it forms itself aportion of the bottom, it is suspended below the bottom by a centralshaft.

By this invention the feed-wh eel itself forms part of the bottom of thehopper, and is supported at its rim by a depending lip and flange on theportion surrounding the aperture in which it is placed, so that itssurface is level with the rest of the bottom of the hopper. There is,therefore, no liability of the feedwheel to clog on account of packingof the fertilizer,-nor will the latter escape by the opening about itsedges;

I claim as my invention specified.

4. The series of feed-wheels D, base-castings B B B andt clearing wheelsG, in combination with the series of gates J and single operating rod K,adapted for joint operation, as and for the purposes herein specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 19th day ofSeptember, 1878, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWIN D. MEAD.

Witnesses N. K. OoLE, GEo. H. PRESTON.

